Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1 Direct examination by Mr. Grinnell. Cross-examination by Mr. Foster. Testified on behalf of the Prosecution, People of the State of Illinois. Testified as to Harry Gilmer's general reputation for truth and veracity. Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): Gilmer, Harry (vol.N 242).
Testimony of John L. Manning, 1886 Aug. 10.
Volume N, 242-246, 5 p.
Manning, John L.
Attorney.
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[Image, Volume N, Page 242]
JOHN L MANNING,
a witness called and sworn on behalf of the people was examined in chief by Mr. Grinnell and testified as follows:
Q What is your name?
A John L. Manning.
Q What is your business?
A Attorney at Law.
Q How long have you lived in Chicago?
A Eighteen years.
Q Do you know Harry L. Gilmer?
A Yes sir.
Q About how long have you known him?
A Five years.
Q Do you know his reputation for truth and veracity among his associates and acquaintances in the city of Chicago?
A Yes sir.
Q Is it good or bad?
A It is good.
Q Would you believe him under oath?
A I would.
CROSS EXAMINATION BY
Mr. Foster.
Q Who were Gilmer's associates last year in the neighborhood in which he lived?
A I only know Mr. Gilmer in connection with my position in the Chicago Union Veteran Club.
Q Did you ever see him except at the Veteran Club?
A Yes, I have employed him recently.
Q That is as a painter?
A No sir.
Q What?
A I am manager of the veteran police patrol. I employed him as one of my men on the occasion of the last strike in May, also in July.
Q As police patrolman?
A Yes sir.
Q Something in the nature of police service and detective service?
A Private police, yes.
Q Are they uniformed?
A No sir, not on this occasion. It was on the occasion of a railroad strike, when I had occasion to send several men to the Wabash Road--I employed him on that occasion.
Q Are you a Wabash man?
A No sir.
Q How does it come you have anything to do with special police?
A I am manager of the veteran police patrol., private police organization, and in that connection I employ men to give their services to those who employ them.
Q Mr. Gilmer's duties on the 4th of May was under that employment?
A I didn't have him on the 4th of May.
Q Have you had him prior to that time?
A No sir, I had him on the night of the 7th of May, and the night of the 8th of May and 9th of May.
Q He was doing duty as a police in citizen's clothes?
A Yes sir, he was special deputy sheriff under the management of our officers on the Wabash road during the strike on the Wabash road.
Q What were his duties?
A Simply to guard the property.
Q Now, as I understand these special patrolmen were not uniformed?
A Those in the regular service are. This is simply what I call special duty.
Q He was not uniformed?
A No sir.
Q Your meeting him at the Veteran Club and your employment as special policeman detailed inc itizen's clothing, is the only acquaintance you had with him?
A What is all. A great many times I recommended him for employment as a member of the club.
Q Do you know antyhing about his reputation for truth and veracity in the neighborhood on which he lived?
A I know nothing about it only as I tell you.
Q In the last nine or ten years that Mr. Gilmer is said to have lived in Chicago, do you know or have you ever known where he lived?
A Yes sir.
Q Where did he live when you knew where he lived?
A He lived at one time my recollection is 17 North Clark street. He lived at another time at Kane's European hotel. He was doing work there--was there several weeks. I think he resided also at one time at 42 Ann street, if I remember rightly. These dates I took from my recollection of the registry of the secretary of the Veteran Club.
Q Did you have the residences down?
A Yes sir, in my roster. For four years I had charge of the roster of the club Was secretary for four years, from October 1881, to January, 1886. During that time it was my business to keep a record of members and their residences.
Q As they changed their residences, they are expected to report to you?
A Yes sir.
Q The fact of your knowing his residence is from his own
report handed to you?
A Yes sir.
Q Did you from personal acquaintance know where he lived?
A No sir.
Q Did you ever visit him or were you ever at his place of residence?
A No sir.
Q Did you ever converse with anyone who resided at or about his place of residence?
A I don't recollect.
Q Do you know the character which he bears for truth and veracity among the neighbors where he lives and with those whom he associates with from day to day?
A Only among the members of the Veteran Club and also from my own association.
Q You only speak from those that he visited?
A I don't know anything about visiting.
Q Your general position as friend of the family?
A No sir.
Q You never introduced him into the family?
A Never had any occasion to.
Q Never made any inquiries as to his family?
A No sir.
Q You don't know whether he is married or single?
A I don't know anything about that.
Q You don't know whether he has half a dozen wives living
A No sir.
Q It was not your business an official in the veteran club to inquire?
A No sir.
Q And you never did inquire?
A Never inquired.
Q So what it amounts to is this, that he was a member of this Veteran Club, that it was composed of some sixteen or seventeen hundred members?
A Yes sir.
Q And that as he changed his residence he reported it and it was jotted down?
A Yes sir.
Q You never knew of your own personal knowledge where he lived, never knew of your personal knowledge of his associates nor where he lived?
A Not positively outside of the Veterans.
Q When he came to the veterans he came as any other person did?
A Yes sir.
Q Attended the meetings and went about his business--where you didn't know?
A Yes sir.
Q And what he did, you didn't know--isn't that true?
A yes sir.
Q Did you ever start out to inquire among those he associated with from day to day and from night to night where he visited and who visited him, and as to his reputation for truth and veracity?
A I never have, no sir.
Q You never did?
A No sir.
Q Q You don't know what it is among those people?
A No sir.
MR. FOSTER: That is all.